Chad Pearson enters his second season as head coach of the track and cross country program at UNCG and his first full season without the interim tag.

This past year as interim head coach, Pearson helped the Spartans win the Southern Conference cross country individual title with Paul Chelimo claiming his third straight victory. The Spartans as a team placed fourth in the SoCon Championships while both Chelimo and Paul Katam advanced to the NCAA Championships in cross country after strong showings at the NCAA Regionals. On the women’s side, the team placed third at the league championship race with three top-10 finishes in Shaina Sumney, Chelsea Sumney and Lydia Saina.

On the track, Shaina Sumney won her first ever SoCon Championships, claiming the indoor title in the 5,000-meter race with a championship-record time. Additionally, both Sumneys placed second in the SoCon outdoor championships this season.

Pearson helped the Spartans record a strong showing during his time as an assistant coach, helping UNCG post three Southern Conference individual champions and two All-America honorees. He helped Chelimo win the SoCon Cross Country Championships and a National Runner-Up finish in outdoor track, while Katam also claimed a National Runner-Up finish in outdoor track in the 10,000-meter distance.

Pearson joined the Spartans after spending time as a volunteer assistant coach at Charlotte (2012) and North Carolina State (2010-11). He was also the graduate assistant coach at NC State from 2004-2006, working with both the cross country and track and field programs.

Pearson was a standout at NC State where he was a three-time NCAA All-America honoree in cross country and track and field. He helped the Wolfpack win back-to-back ACC cross country team championships as well as earning Academic All-America honors during his career. Pearson still holds the school record in the outdoor track 10,000-meter distance when he posted a time of 28:37.95 and helped the Wolfpack finish 10th place in the NCAA Cross Country Championships his senior year.

Pearson was a United States Olympic Trials track and field qualifier and was the United States 10,000-meter Road National Champion. Additionally, he was a member of the United States Junior National Cross Country Team.